Vintage shots from days gone by!

Here,s the rest of the crew. Dutch ANWB ( AAA ) Roadside help/assistence

 

Might want to disconnect the spark plugs or chain lest the bike start as you are crusing down the road.

 

Interesting where our curiosity leads us on the internet. EL MOE mentioned that this is not Al Crocker as several sites on the net had led me to believe. It is actually Paul Bigsby who was Crockers foreman at Indian Motocycles and went to work for Crocker at his L.A. Indian dealership that eventually became Crocker Motorcycles.


Al Crocker on the left, Paul Bigsby on the right with rider Sam Parriott, June 14, 1940 at Muroc dry lake. 136.87MPH.



If the name Sam Parriott is familiar after his illustrious motorcycle racing career he was the mayor of City of Industry and drag raced a couple of Kurtis built cars in modified sports.



Mean while, HD and Indian didn't like the upstart building faster and better motorcycles and pressured their suppliers to not sell parts to Crocker. Budd and Kelsy Hayes complied and would not sell wheels to Crocker. It was reported if you wanted Crocker to build you a bike you had to buy the wheels and send them to Crocker. During WWII most industries were involved with war production and Crocker had contracts with LA aircraft builders that continued after the war instead of reprising the motorcycle business.

Paul Bigsby played guitar and hung out with musicians, one of which was Merle Travis who asked him to build him a better guitar. Bigsby's patened reply was "I can build anything". He proceeded to build the first solid body electric guitar with all 6 tuning keys inline. Not Fender, not Less Paul, but it is said they were all drinking buddies. He also designed a tremolo bar (whammy) that is still in production and used on the best guitars in the world.

 

1927 Oakland.

 

For what it's worth the Crocker name and business is still active. The owner comes to Hershey every year. He owns the rights to anything Crocker.

 

Swan Island Airport, Portland, OR

 

the black and white image, is the the KAAS coupe

 

So close! Should've 'shopped out that Challenger on the right (and finished 'shopping out the disembodied ghost on the left).
Pretty sure that's my boss's pale blue '59 Continental in the background.